Newspaper business dead? Think again!

Like it or loathe it, you can't dispute the Daily Mail's success as a money-making venture.

Indeed, all those who suggest that the newspaper business is dead should reconsider when they scan the business's new figures.

The Mail is part of a media group, incidentally, which includes Welsh titles such as the South Wales Evening Post, Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal.

Effective Communication MD Alastair Milburn pinged me a story link today which revealed that the Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) had reported a 23% leap in annual profits.

A key factor was a record performance at its Daily Mail and Metro newspapers. One of those freesheets is seen regularly by South Wales commuters.

DMGT's underlying earnings rose from £201m to £247m in the year to October 3 following a bounce in ad revenues and growth in the business publishing divisions.

DMGT's UK consumer businesses achieved a sharp improvement in profitability as a result of cost cuts and growth in national ad revenues. Major advertisers increasing their marketing spend.

Yes, DMGT's regional newspaper wing, Northcliffe Media, saw advertising turnover fall 7% since the end of the fiscal year, with a lower local authority spend a major factor - but group success shows that newspapers can still be tremendously robust vehicles for wealth generation.

Businesses: Ignore newspapers as a marketing tool at your peril.